Charles Leclerc Was Once Stopped by the Police After Monza Win, but Not for the Reason You Think

Charles Leclerc has a knack for getting involved with the Italian Police. During the 2022 season, Leclerc got his exclusive Richard Mille Timepiece snatched from his wrist when he was approached by two individuals wearing motorcycle helmets who asked him for a selfie. Leclerc was seen running after the thieves in a CCTV footage. The police eventually arrested 4 people who were suspected of being involved in the robbery. However, a few years back, in 2019, it was Leclerc himself who was stopped by the Italian police after his historic win at Monza.

Winning at Monza means the world for any Ferrari driver, and Charles Leclerc is no different. It was a win that the Tifosi had been waiting for almost a decade. After the race, he said, “Being up there was a very special moment. Racing for Ferrari, you only see red – or 98% of people are red – and this makes you feel like home… These types of moments are very special whenever you see loads of people are supporting you, are living your career with you.” However, what’s interesting is that Charles Leclerc was stopped later by the police. It was the only time this had happened with the Monegasque when he had been stopped for a transgression. But there was an unexpected twist in his encounter with the cops after the Monza win.

This revelation from Leclerc came during a recent interview when he was asked if he drives safely on the streets. “I do!“ said Leclerc. “I am very calm, streets are not the place to push, unlike circuits.“ However, he recalled the time he was found overspeeding by a small margin and was stopped by the police, who turned out to be Ferrari fans as well. “The only time I got stopped (by the police), I was 2-3 km/h over the limit. It was the day after my win in Monza, they stopped me and asked for a picture and signature,“ he added.

While Ferrari has not managed to win another race in Monza since 2019, last year’s battle between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during the Italian GP was one of the best duels between these teammates.

Tifosi witnessed the “on the limit” battle between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz

If it were not for Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore, Red Bull would have won all the races in 2023. However, the Spanish driver had the chance to pull off the win early in the 2023 season at Monza. Starting the race from pole position, Sainz fought to maintain his position against the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. However, this resulted in wearing out his tires earlier than expected, leaving him open to attack from his teammate.

The Ferrari duo fought fiercely in the final stage of the race for the final podium position. However, it was Carlos Sainz who eventually ended up securing a deserving third position with his teammate finishing behind less than two-tenths of a second. After the race, Sainz acknowledged the toll his battle with Leclerc took on his tires and nerves. He described the racing as “on the limit” but fair.

Both drivers acknowledged the risk of making the Tifosi angry with their aggressive racing. However, they also mentioned that fans want to see such intense battles between two teammates and it brings excitement to them. It was also encouraging to see that Ferrari refrained from deploying team orders to stop Sainz and Leclerc from battling, giving the Tifosi a battle they will remember for a long time.

With Ferrari’s constant improvements in 2024, can they catch up to Red Bull by the time the F1 calendar reaches Italy?

READ MORE: Ex-Ferrari Boss Gives Charles Leclerc Ultimate Advice to Overcome Race Performance Slump